BSNL salary will be equal to MTNL in 2017

Govt to bring parity between pay scales of MTNL, BSNL.

The Government has decided to bring parity between the pay scales of
employees at Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Ltd with their counterparts in
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Ltd. This will be done at the time of next wage
revision in 2017. At present, MTNL workers get higher pay compared to
BSNL employees.

REHAB PLAN

The move to bring parity is part of Government’s overall plan to revive
the two public sector telecom companies. This will also mean that
pension benefits of the two companies will be brought at par.

“The liability of the Government towards pension of absorbed employees
of MTNL may be restricted to the equivalent scales of similarly placed
employees in BSNL. In case MTNL decides to pay pension on the basis of
existing pay scales, the liability arising from the same shall be borne
by MTNL,” a top Government official said, adding that this was decided
at the last meeting of the Empowered Group of Ministers.

MTNL has been told to get a written agreement with the employees to this
effect. However, MTNL employees said the Government proposal may not be
accepted by the workers’ union. High wage costs have been a concern for
MTNL. Salary and pension expenses of MTNL employees are more than its
revenues.

In addition to the pay scale, the Department of Telecom has presented to
the EGoM a multi-pronged strategy to revive the two PSUs. For example,
the DoT has offered to take over the debt of MTNL and BSNL in return for
their surrendering broadband spectrum.

While MTNL has a debt of around Rs 8,400 crore, BSNL has taken loans of Rs 2,500 crore.